The ramblings of a pilgrim through time, space, and life.

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My cousin, Lee Koldewyn, provided this photo to me. He obtained this photo from his grandparents, Andrew and Maria Hewitt over 50 years ago. He believes the photo is of family, but is unsure about who. I offered to post it for him to see if that will give any other leads.

From the face of the photo, it was photographed by H. H. Thomas of Washington Avenue, Ogden, Weber, Utah. Heber Harris Thomas ran his Washington Avenue shop from the late 1880s to 1909. He started his shop and was called to serve a mission to the British Isles. He returned about 1890, so this photo is likely in that time period between 1890 and 1909.

The clothing would definitely point to the 1880s and 1890s, but an older woman into the early 1900s might still be wearing that fashion, so the clothing fits the time period but does not narrow the years.

Lastly, the lady is older in the photo. At a minimum she is 70, so we are looking for a person that is over her 70th birthday or so during when Thomas was running his studio.

Maria Hewitt is a sister to my Berendena Van Leeuwen Donaldson (1898 – 1959). Maria Van Leeuwen was born 15 November 1893 in Ogden. Her parents were George & Harmina Van Leeuwen. None of Maria’s grandparents made it to Utah from Netherlands to have their photos taken in Thomas’ studio. I have enough pictures of Harmina Janzen Van Leeuwen (1860-1921) to know that the photo is not of her. That means we can turn from my Van Leeuwen clan to that of the Hewitt clan.

Of course, we have nothing to say for certain whether this photo is a relative of Andrew George Hewitt, but there is an assumption this person is related to Andrew.

Andrew George Hewitt was born 17 September 1892 in Marriott, Weber, Utah. His parents were George Joseph Lemuel Hewitt (29 February 1872 – 7 March 1946) and Prudence Ekins (22 May 1862 – 18 November 1948). While Prudence lived to be 86 years old, her time over 70 is outside the time frame for which Thomas was photographing in Ogden. She is not a candidate.

George Joseph Lemuel Hewitt’s mother was Clarissa Wilson born 29 April 1836 in Green, Richland, Ohio. She passed away 18 August 1890 in Ogden. She died at the age of 54. I could not locate any photos for her. While she fits the location, she does not quite fit the correct time frame for the age of the lady in the photo nor is she quite fit the time frame for Thomas’ studio. Does not seem a likely option.

Prudence Ekins’ mother was Rebecca Burnham born 20 March 1829 in Moulton Seas End, Lincolnshire, England. She passed away 29 September 1894 in Slaterville, Weber, Utah. She died at the age of 65 years. I could locate some photos of her and she was a thin, narrow faced woman. She does not appear to have any relation to the woman in the photo. Her location fits, her age is not quite so sure, and Thomas was operative during that time.

That excludes both of Andrew’s grandmothers. Does he have any great grandmothers who might match?

Clarissa Wilson Hewitt mentioned above was the daughter of Agnes Hunter. Agnes Hunter Wilson was born 27 December 1811 in Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania. She died 7 February 1886 in Ogden. While I could not find out the exact year Thomas opened his studio, there may have been some overlap in time frames. She died at the age of 74. The only photos I could locate of her was when she was younger. A number of features of Agnes could match the woman above, but there were also many distinguishing features. The nose, mouth, and lines of the younger Agnes Hunter Wilson just do not seem to fully line up. However, I could maybe be convinced that Agnes was a relative of the lady above. Here is Agnes Hunter Wilson’s photo from FamilySearch.

Agnes Hunter Wilson (1811 – 1886)

Matching the photos, if this is indeed a photo of Agnes Hunter Wilson, shows similar bone structure, but very different noses and mouths. I am not convinced these are one and the same, but could they be related.

Agnes had one sister, Mary, but she died in 1878 and could not have been photographed by Thomas.

Comparing the photos of Agnes’ daughters (Clarissa’s sisters) and none of them fit the bill. I could not find photos of all the sisters and the ones I did do not match the woman at the top. None of Clarissa’s daughters would have been old enough to be photographed by Thomas.

Ultimately, I am not convinced this is Agnes Hunter Wilson, nor could I find an ancestor of Andrew Joseph Lemuel Hewitt that seemed to match. Nothing of the family resemblance matches the Van Leeuwen side.

Hopefully I have provided enough information someone could find this post. Hopefully someone has a similar photo of this woman to make the connection.

Uncle Donald Andra passed away recently. I wanted to share his obituary and a number of the good photos I have of him.

Donald Wanner Andra, 82, passed away on Friday, May 6, 2016 at his home in Chubbuck. He was under the care of Hospice and it made his passing a little easier knowing he had been well cared for.

He was born the seventh of twelve children on 15 Jul 1933 in Preston, Idaho, to William Fredrick and Mary Louise Wanner Andra. He married Carolyn Jepsen in Pocatello on 10 Aug 1951 and again in the Logan, Utah Temple on 17 Apr 1953. He met Phyllis Beverly McKinney while working in New York and married her 21 Sep 1957 in Hogansburg and they were sealed 21 Jul 1958 in the Logan, Utah Temple. Both marriages ended in divorce. He met and married Lolane Schiess 7 Feb 1973 in Pocatello and they were sealed 6 Jun 1974 in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple.

Don worked on the family farm near Preston growing up. He owned and operated Don’s Chubbuck Tire for more than 18 years. He raised, admired, and showed quarter horses for most of his life. He enjoyed hunting deer, elk, pheasant, antelope, moose, and more. He loved sports, especially baseball and football when his own family was involved. He regularly worked in the garden, tinkered in the shed building trailers and other useful things, and preferred a good game, laugh, or joke.

Don and Lolane served two missions together in the Washington DC North Mission assigned to as workers in the Washington DC Temple from Aug 2007 to Jan 2009 and the Idaho Pocatello Employment Resource Center Mission from June 2010 to Dec 2011.
Don and Lolane wintered each winter in St. George relishing their time together with family and seeking yard sales.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 from 6-8 pm at Colonial Funeral Home 2005 S. 4th Ave. Pocatello, ID 83201, 208-233-1500.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 11 am at the LDS Chubbuck 3rd Ward Chapel, 4773 Independence Ave. Chubbuck, ID 83202, with a viewing for one hour prior to the services at the church.

Here is a history of Pet milk published in the Northside Journal in Jerome, Idaho. It provides some history of Pet Milk, aka Sego Milk. They also had a plant in Richmond, Utah, which is where my Grandfather, Norwood Jonas worked until it closed about 1967.

Pet Evaporated Milk

Buhl, ID

Compiled by Earl Gilmartin

Condensed History Pet Evaporated Milk Corporation

1885- It started with an idea of canning as a preservative in the small town of Highland, Illinois. After a $15,000 investment the Helvetia Milk Condensing Company was born (later to be renamed PET).

1895 – After overcoming a number of growing pains, more than half the company’s sales were in the West. The “Our PET” trademark is registered and becomes the official name for the company’s leading brand.

American fighting troops with a safe and convenient source of milk in Spanish-American War. At war’s end, the troops scattered home across the U.S. and many, remembering the high quality milk, brought it home to their families.

1914 – Once again, the U.S. government places large orders of PET to supply U.S. troops fighting overseas in World War I.

1929 – In the midst of the Great Depression PET becomes an important staple to American families and is able to expand its service to consumers with the creation of original recipes using PET products.

1941 – Again, PET is called upon to supply GIs fighting in World War II, as well as the citizens at home. More recipes, specifically designed with rationing limitations in mind are created to help families get a wholesome diet.

1950 – the combination of post-war prosperity and a baby boom result in more cans of PET Milk being sold than any other time in company’s 65-year history. PET also establishes its own test kitchens to develop and test new products and recipes.

1966 – PET began making “better for you” products including a Skimmed Milk and a 99% Fat Free Evaporated Skim Milk.

Today – PET Evaporated Milk continues to be a staple in millions of homes and is used in many different homes and is used in many different recipes, from main dishes, to soups, desserts and more.

We invite you to try the recipes on this site to create sensational food for your family!

Early History Pet Evaporated Milk

John Baptist Meyenberg (1847-1914) was an operator at the Anglo-Swiss milk condenser at Cham, Switzerland. Anglo-Swiss made sweetened condensed milk.

From 1866 through 1883, Meyenberg experimented with preservation of milk without the use of sugar. He discovered that condensed milk would last longer if heated to 120 C (248 F) in a sealed container, and hence could be preserved without adding sugar. When Anglo-Swiss declined to implement Meyenberg’s work, he resigned from the company and emigrated to the United States. John Meyenbert first moved to St. Louis, but soon transferred to Highland, Illinois , due to its large Swiss population. On 25 November 1884, U.S. Patents 308,421 (Apparatus for Preserving Milk) and 308,422 (Process for Preserving Milk) were issued to Meyenberg. Meyenburg associated with various local merchants, including John Wildi, Louis Latzer, Dr. Knoebel, George Roth and Fred Kaeser and, on February 14, 1885, organized the Helvetia Milk Condensing Company. In 1899, Meyenberg assisted Elbridge Amos Stuart in producing Carnation Evaporated Milk.

John Wildi was instrumental in marketing the product nationally and internationally, especially in areas where fresh milk or refrigeration were scarce. In 1895, the company registered the Pet trademark.

The Sterling company of Twin Falls leases the Buhl Creamery facility for one year. TFTN 11-11-1911

A transaction of importance to the dairymen of Buhl county was consummated on Saturday afternoon of last week when the Sterling Creamery Co of Twin Falls, secured by lease for a period of one year, the plant, business and good will of the Buhl Creamery, Milk Condensing, Cheese Manufacturing company of this city. The consideration was highly satisfactory and most remunerative to the local company, guaranteeing, as it does, a substantial market, paying a liberal consideration for the business and being in effect for a period of only one year.

Early History Pet Evaporated Milk

Funding universe

During the Spanish-American and First World wars, the U.S. government ordered huge supplies of evaporated milk, spurring Helvetia to build a second plant in Greenville, Illinois. By 1918 the company had a total of ten production sites in the Midwest, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. As World War I ended, Helvetia closed plants due to oversupply, reluctantly pulling out of western markets. Latzer sold the excess milk to St. Louis businessmen, who turned to him in 1920 when a strike by the local milk producers association limited the brokers’ supplies. The St. Louis strikers also convinced the Highland area farmers to strike, however , and Latzer was forced to close the plant.

By early 1921, Latzer’s son John ran Helvetia from its reestablied headquarters in nearby St. Louis. In 1923, Helvetica was renamed Pet Milk Company, after its best-selling evaporated milk brand.

Health & Home TFTN 7-3-1925

Many people are wont to confuse evaporated and condensed milk, but there is no similarity between the two. Condensed milk is a combination of sugar and milk and can be used only when both of these substances are desired. Evaporated milk is with about sixty per cent of the water removed and the nutrients content left intact.

Pet evaporated milk manufactured in Buhl, & other locations in the United States at the turn of the century.

Six Tons of Milk Received each day by Buhl Dairy Plant

TFDaily News 10-29-1927

About 12,000 lb of milk per day is being received at the Sego condenser which when evaporated makes 5760 tall cans. The product is being stored for the present at the plant.

The phenomenal increase in dairying in Idaho is vividly set forth by figures just made public by Idaho Chamber of Commerce in its organization publication for June. Evaporated milk production in 1928 was 1,585,000 lbs, a gain of more then 4,000,000 lbs over 1927.

Employment for Additional 20 Seen; Better Times Indicated

TFIT 5-23-1933 aka Twin Falls Idaho Times

J Frank Smith field director and former manager of the Buhl plant, with E G Meyer production manager, have been supervising the overhauling of the machinery preparatory to opening the condensery. Floyd Englen, local manger, stated about 20 persons will be added to the pay roll.

The opening of the Buhl plant in addition to furnishing added employment will also serve as an outlet for the West End dairy products.

After World War II Pet Milk began a slight movement into other markets. The company became the first to offer nonfat dry milk, and advance over the powdered milk developed in the 1920s. Sales soared due to the post-war baby boom, making 1950 the all-time-high sales year for Pet Evaporated Milk. Soon thereafter, fresh milk became readily available, however, and sales began a steady decline.

Pet Evaporated Milk diversifies in 1960’s

Funding Universe

Through restructuring, Pet Milk corporate reduced committee numbers, initiated a profit-centered divisional structure, and recruited marketing professionals. The company also planned new product development to wean itself from the declining milk market (as late as 1960, 95 percent of Pet Milk sales were in dairy products). By the early 1960s, diversification had begun in earnest.

Another of Pet Milk’s successful products at this time was Sego Liquid Diet Food, introduced in 1961. After competitors had opened up a market, Pet Milk brought in its own version, a thicker, high-protein drink available in variety of flavors. By 1965 Sego brought in $22 million to the company’s Milk Products Division sales.

In 1966, in order to reflect its enlarged and diversified product line, Pet Milk changed its name to Pet Incorporated.

Funding for these acquisitions came largely from a special credit Pet obtained through the sale of its portion of General Milk Co., a joint venture

Buhl Evaporated Milk to Close (1995 TFTN)

The bulk of this article is based on TFTN articles.

Buhl’s evaporated milk plant – which has provided Magic Valley jobs for 68 years will close June 20. Pillsbury Co executives told 64 workers Thursday morning that they’re shutting the plant which produces evaporated milk as a cost saving measure.

That means 300,000 fewer gallons of milk will be passing through Buhl each day. And a plant that each day produced 5000 cases of canned milk will be vacant. Eventually, the plant will be sold.

Evaporated milk production will shift to a company cannery in Greeneville, TN. But chances are slim that displaced workers will get to follow their jobs back East.

The story of the Andra Family Coming to America written by sisters Frieda and Clara Andra, compiled by Deanne Yancey Driscoll.

Frieda begins: “My story begins in the Old Country – in Germany. My father, Friedrich Theodor Andra, died November 23, 1902 in Meissen, Sachsen, Germany. Mother, Wilhelmine Christina Knauke Andra, was left with five children, ranging in age from six months to nine years. The children’s names were: Frieda Minna, Walter Theodor, William Friedrich, Clara Anna and Otto Carl. My poor Mother had to struggle to support us. She did small jobs at home and we children helped. I worked here and there to help along.

Clara wrote, “In 1905, my oldest brother (Walter) who was twelve worked where ever he could to earn some money to help mother.”

Clara wrote the following about their conversion to the Mormon Church, “The blueberries were ripening, and we always picked buckets of them to sell. So, on one of these outings, mother met a family by the name of Boettcher, she started to tell Mother about a new religion they had joined. She invited Mother to one of the meetings. It was the beginning of a wonderful new life for Mother and us children, as the next year we met many new friends. Mother loved this new church and its teachings. It was a wonderful good way to live.”

Frieda also wrote her memories of their conversion: “Three years later, while we were in the forest picking berries, Mother met a lady named Mrs. Boettcher. Mrs Boettcher told her about some Mormon Missionaries who were holding some meetings. So Mother began attending the meetings. One by one we all joined the church. Years later, after we were all baptized, Mother invited the missionaries to our house. She fed them and let them hold their meetings there. However, the Lutheran pastor didn’t like it, particularly because Mother was a widow and he gave her a very hard time.”

Frieda continues her story: “In 1909, the Boettcher family decided to go to America. Mother asked them if they would take her son, Willie. (Bill was young and he could go for a cheaper fare.) They agreed to do this. Mother gave them the money for Willie. When they arrived in Salt Lake City, they attended the German Meeting in the Assembly Hall. After they had been in America half a year, they sent Willie to do farm work for a man they had met at the German meeting. They didn’t even know where the farm was nor did they care.”

“When they wrote to Mother, they said Willie was lost. When Mother told the people in Germany that her son was lost in America, they called her names and told her she was wicked to have let him go. But all the time God knew where Willie was. He was opening the way for us to go America. Mother prayed to our Father in Heaven for her son’s safety and that she might be able to find him again. Her boss, Conrad Zinke, sent telegrams trying to locate Willie but was unsuccessful. One morning Mother was on her way to work when a light shone about her and she heard a voice say, “Go to America.” When she told her boss, he said he would be glad to help her all he could. When he asked her if she had any money, she answered ‘Very little.’ He was so kind. He sent a man over to help pack, and get the tickets, and get the money he’d given them exchanged for American currency. They gave us a big going away party in their villa. The farewell dinner was held in the most beautiful room. They cried and hugged us as they said good-by. Our friends gave Mother the rest of the money she needed to make the trip. Even my boyfriend Paul contributed. Grandmother Wilhelmine Richter Knauke and Aunt Augusta were at the depot to bid us farewell. They really thought Mother was foolish for going to America. They didn’t realize my Mother had been inspired to go. She knew God would guide her if she was faithful. God in Heaven surely did guide us all the way to America. Glory be to him in the highest for all the wonderful blessings we have enjoyed.” (Otto left for America on the 5th of May in 1910. He was 7 years old and would turn 8 on the voyage.)

William Fredrick Andra wrote: “I was born on Feb 11, 1898, in Meissen, Saxony, Germany to Wilhelmina and Theodor F. Andra. My father died when I was about four years old. I was baptized in the Elbe River in April 1909 and came to the United States the following month of May. I left at the age of eleven, one year ahead of the same boat, but were for some reason delayed a month. The boat that they (his family) had intended to take sank in mid-ocean.“The Lord moves in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform!”

Frieda continued: “We left for America on the 5th of May in 1910. We traveled by train to Bremerhaven, Germany. There we boarded a steamer: The North Deutcher Loyd. For two weeks I was terribly seasick. When we reached Philadelphia, the rock salt was unloaded. Everybody was very kind to us there and people gave us money. The cook, who had become a good friend of mine, bought me a ring but my sister Clara insisted she wanted it, so I got the locket he had bought for her. Then we traveled to Galveston, Texas. When we arrived there, we freshened up and my friend, the cook, showed us the town. He bought us some bananas, which we had never eaten before. We swallowed the chewing gum whole, as it was also strange to us, and then we all got stomach aches. We certainly enjoyed the cook. He was always kind to us and saw that we had good food to eat. Another fellow gave us a cake. When our train was due, we had to say good-bye to these fine friends. It was quite rough on the train. We couldn’t talk much so we enjoyed the scenery. Many funny things happened.“

Dad continues to go through more items he has from Grandpa’s death (Milo James Ross). One of the seemingly random items is this diploma for Theodore Bourls Stem. It is a high school Diploma for him from DuBois High School in DuBois, Clearfield, Pennsylvania. Dad does not have any idea why Grandpa would have this Diploma, if he knew Theodore Stem, or just picked it up at a yard sale or somewhere else. We will not likely ever know. I have tried reaching out to some Stem’s across the country. Hopefully we can track down some of Theodore’s family. I believe this Theodore Stem went on to become a Doctor but am struggling to find some definitive answers. It may be that his son has the same name and is also a doctor. Hopefully I can update this post later with some updates.

Like this:

Dad has continued to go through the items Grandpa and Grandma Ross left behind. Here is a photo that unfortunately is likely lost to the past. We are not sure why Grandpa and Grandma had it in their collection. It could be an ancestor but it might simply be a flea market find.

Frankly, I cannot even tell for certain what the top of the photo is supposed to say. Either way, there is the lady and the child in the bottom right corner.

The back of the photograph has “L. Whittling, Photographer, Cochranton, PA.” written on the back. It also indicates “Presented to A Sawford” For those interested, the back of the photo is shared below.

I attempted to find an A Sawford in the Cochranton area but did not immediately turn up anything definitive. The other thing is we do not know if this person is related to Mr. or Ms. Sawford. There is nothing to link Sawford to Cochranton.

One thing I can say, I do not have an ancestral line that came through Pennsylvania. I cannot even find a relative that went to live in Pennsylvania on the Ross, Sharp, Stoker, Donaldson, or Van Leeuwen lines. Hopefully with the limited information, someone related might be able to find this relative.

Again, scanning photos for some friends. This photo intrigued me. I would like to introduce you to the Burk family. I assume this picture is at their home in Buffalo, Washington, Pennsylvania. They were living in Buffalo on both the 1920 and 1930 censuses.

John Davis Burk was born 29 November 1873 in Buffalo to Henry and Mary Earnest Burk. Somewhere along the way he met Charlotte Fyfe.

Charlotte Fyfe

Charlotte Fyfe was born 15 August 1893 in Scofield, Carbon, Utah to William Weir and Christina Wylie Fyfe (sometimes spelled Fife).